woleestein



2 SheetsSheet 1.

{No Model.)

S WOLERSTEIN RACK FOR EXHIBITING GARMENTS.

Patented Se Wnases:

N, VETERS. Plwlimumpher, Wawhingwn, D. C,

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet- S. WOLERSTEIN. RACK FOR EXHIBITING GARMENTS.

Patented Sept. 18, 1888.

ass es:

u. zrzns. mmmmnpmr. Washinm u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SOLOM ON WOLERSTEIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

RACK FOR EXHIBITING GARMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 389,628, datedSeptember 18, 1888.

Application filed January 16, 1888. Serial No. 260,811. (No model.) V

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, SOLOMON WOLERSIEIN, of the city and county of NewYork, in the State of New York, have invented anew and usefulImprovement in Racks for Exhibiting Garments, of which the following isa specification.

Although my improved rack may be employed for exhibiting garments ofvarious kinds, it is more particularly intended for exhibiting ladiescloaks and jackets; and the particular object of my invention has beento provide a light portable rack, constructed in sections, so that itmay be readily collapsed or folded to occupy but. little space in thetrunk of a traveling salesman, and so that he can in a very few momentsextend and connect its parts'for use wherever he may be.

My improved rack comprisesin all cases two end standards, which areadjustable in height, as by making them of telescopic sections, and bothsupported at their lower ends as on the floor, and a folding top barhaving its ends fitted to engage the tops of the standards, and composedof sections each having a horizontal pivot, whereby they may be swunginto positions parallel with each other for packing. Each standard, whencollapsed within its shortest length, may be readily placed in asampletrunk, and the top bar when folded may also be there placed. Iusually employ, additional to the two end standards, an intermediatestandard,with which the folding sections of the top bar are connected byhinges; and I also employ with the end and intermediate standard abottom bar, which is composed of two sections, each hinged at one end toone of the standards between which it is placed, and having adetachableconnection at its otherend with the other of the two standards betweenwhich it is placed. Preferably these sections of the bottom bar arehinged to the end standards, and I also hinge to the bottom ofthc endstandards base-bars, which may be spread so as to extend at right anglesto the standard,or folded upward, so as to lie close against thestandard for facility in packing. On each end standard I provide anadjustable collar, and this collar is connected by braces with both thebase-bars and the section of the bottom bar, which is hinged to thebottom of that standard. This collar slides upward upon the standard andpermits the base-bars and the section of the bottom bar to fold closelyagainst the standard.

The invention will be more particularly hereinafter described, and thenpointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of myimproved rack extended for use. Fig. 2' is an end View thereof. Fig. 3is a top view of the intermediate standard, showing the connection ofthe sections of the folding top bar with that standard. Fig. 4 is atransverse section of one of the end standards, showing the connectionof its base-bars and the section of the bottom bar therewith. Fig. 5 isa transverse section of the intermediate standard, showing thedetachable connection therewith of thebottom bar sections. Figs. 6 and 7are side views at right angles to each other, showing the endstandardwith its basebars and bottom barsection folded closely against it forpacking in a trunk. Fig. 8 is a side View. of the intermediate standardwith the top bar-sections folded closely against it;

and Fig. 9 illustrates a modified form ofjoint .between the two foldingsections of the top bar.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

The rack comprises as essential elements two end standards, A, each ofwhich is adj ustable in height, and, as here represented,the adj ustmentis secured by forming each end standard of a bottom section, a, and atop section, a, sliding telescopically within the same. By a set-screw,(i the inner section, a, may be secured at any desired height ofprojection above the bottom section, a. As here represented, anintermediate standard, A, is also employed, and is, like the endstandards, composed of telescopically joined section a a, secured at anydesired height by asetscrew, a A folding top bar, B, is also employed.The sections B of the top bar are hinged at their inner ends byhorizontal pivots b to a top piece or head, a, which is on theintermediate standard, and at their outer endsthey have eyes or socketswhich slip over the studs a", projecting from the upper ends of the endstandards, or they are otherwise detachably connected with the tops ofthe end standards. Vhen the rack is made without employing theintermediate standard and using only the two end standards, the sectionsB of the top bar may be connected by a rule-joint, b, as shown in Fig.9. This making of the top bar of folding sections is desirable toprovide for readily collapsing said top bar into such length that it maybe packed into atrunk and thestandards A A, when drawn together to theirshortest height, may also be readily packed within a trunk.

Each end standard A is provided with basebars 0, which are hinged at cto the bottom of the standard, and the rack also has a bottom bar, D,which is composed of sections hinged at d to the bottoms of the endstandards, and having their inner ends detachably connected at d withthe bottom of the intermediate standard. As here' represented, thisdetachable connection between the sections of the bottom bar, D, and theintermediate standard, A, is formed by constructing the intermediatestandard, A,with pairs of laterally-projecting lugs or ears (1, betweenwhich the bottom bar-sections, D, enter, and forming in these lugs orears notches d, which receive a cross-pin, d, in the bar-section D.\Vhen the ends of the bar-sectionsD are thus connected withtheint-ermediate standard, the end standards and intermediate standardare held at the proper distance apart.

\Vhen packing the rack in a trunk, it is necessary to fold the base-barsC and the bottom bar-section, D, of each end standard into positionsparallel with the end standard, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. To providefor readily doing this, I place upon each end standard A an adjustablecollar, O,which may be secured in any position by a set screw, 0, andwhich is connected by braces C with the basebars 0 and the section D ofthe bottom bar. By loosening the set-screw c and sliding it up ward 011the standard the basebars O and the bottom bar-section, D, may be foldedupward into positions parallel with the standard, as shown in Figs. 6and 7, and the folding sections B of the top bar may be folded downwardagainst the side of the intermediate standard, A, as shown in Fig. 8. Toprovide for readily moving the rack about upon the floor of a room, itsbase portions may be provided with casters 0, so that even when it isloaded with garments it may be readily moved.

An end standard A, with its necessary base-bars G and bottombar-section, D, may be considered as constituting a section of the rack,and it is obvious that a rack of this character may be extended in astraight line or extended laterally from the intermediate standard, A.To that end I have shown the intermediate standard, A, as provided withpairs of notched lugs or ears (1", extending at right angles to thosewhich receive the bar-sections D, as shown in Fig. 5, and I haverepresented the ends of other bar-sections, D, as engaged with theselatter lugs or cars. To the same end I have represented the top piece, aof the intermediate standard as provided with lugs or ears 0", extendingat right angles to the top bar-sections, B, as best shown in Fig. 3, andin these lugs or ears I) may be pivoted top bar-sections, B, similar tothose here designated B, but extending at right angles to them. Thus byproviding an intermediate standard with hinged top bar-sections, B B,extending from it at four equidistant points, and by providing four endstandards, A, each with a bottom bar-seclion, D or D, I form a rackhaving four sections radiating from a common center.

The above-described rack will be light and very quickly set up for useor taken down for packing. Its top and bottom bars,B D,may be composedof flat thin bars set up edgewise, and its standards A A may be formedof thin tubes. Because of the adjustment of the standards vertically,provision is afforded for forming a low rack,on whichjackets or shortcoats may be exhibited, and by raising the standards I adjust the rackso that itis adapted for long coats.

Not only is my improved rack very advantageous for traveling salesmen,as it can be carried in their trunks and can,at a moments notice, be setup in any hotel-room ready for use, but it is also very desirable forretail and wholesale stores, because in the dull season they can befolded together and laid away in a very small compass, thereby savinglarge and valuable space over the old-fashioned and clumsy wooden rackscommonly used for the purpose.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. In a rack for garments, the combination, with two standards, A,adjustable in height and each to be supported at its lower end,as on thefloor, of a folding top bar, B, having its ends fitted to engage thetops of the standards and composed of sections each having a horizontalpivot, whereby they may be swung into parallel position forpaeking,substantially as herein described.

2. In a rack for garments, the combination, with two telescopicstandards and folding basebars hinged to the lower section of eachstandard, of a collar adjustable on each standard and braces pivotallyconnected with the collar and folding basebars, so that by sliding thecollar the base-bars and braces may be adjusted to position for use orfolded against the standard, and a folding top barhavingits ends fittedto engage the tops of the standards, substantially as herein described.

3. The combination,with two end standards and an intermediatestandard,of a folding top bar composed of two sections permanently hinged attheir inner ends to the intermediate standard and at their outer endsfitted to en gage the end standard, and a folding bottom bar composed ofsections each hinged at one end to one of the standards and having atits other end a detachable engagement with another of the standards,substantially as herein described.

4. The combination of the telescopic end standards,A, each having hingedto its lower folding top bar, B,c0n1p0sed of sections hinged section thebase-bars O and the section D of to the intermediate standard anddctachably [o the bottom bar, the adjustable collar 0 on each endstandard and the folding braces 0 5 connecting said collar with thebase-bars O and the bar-section D, the intermediate telescopic standard,with the bottom of which the bar-sections D detachably engage, and theengaging the end standards, substantially as herein described.

SOLOMON XVOLERSTEIN. W'itnesses:

FREDK. HAYNES, J 0s. W. Ron.

